Idioms and phrases — SSC CGL English Notes

Concepts and rules

An idiom is a fixed group of words whose meaning differs from the literal meaning of each word: 'to let the cat out of the bag' means 'to reveal a secret', not anything about a cat.

SSC-style formats: (1) choose the meaning of the idiom in bold or capitals; (2) choose the idiom that fits a blank; (3) replace a phrase in a sentence with an idiom. The words of an idiom are fixed: 'a bolt from the blue', never 'a bolt from the sky'.

Surprise and timing: a bolt from the blue (a sudden, unexpected event); at the eleventh hour (at the last possible moment); once in a blue moon (very rarely); in the nick of time (just in time).

Effort and work: burn the midnight oil (work or study late into the night); leave no stone unturned (try every possible means); make both ends meet (live within one's income); a wild goose chase (a hopeless, useless search).

Speech and secrets: beat about the bush (avoid coming to the main point); call a spade a spade (speak frankly); let the cat out of the bag (reveal a secret); hit the nail on the head (say exactly the right thing); pull someone's leg (tease someone playfully).

Trouble and failure: in hot water (in trouble); bite the dust (be defeated, fail, or die); add fuel to the fire (make a bad situation worse); cry over spilt milk (regret what cannot be undone).

Character and feeling: get cold feet (lose courage just before doing something); show the white feather (show cowardice); turn over a new leaf (change one's behaviour for the better); smell a rat (suspect something wrong).

Value and relationships: a white elephant (a costly possession that is useless or troublesome to keep); apple of one's eye (a dearly loved person); a feather in one's cap (an achievement to be proud of); hand in glove (in close, usually secret, partnership); see eye to eye (agree fully); through thick and thin (in all circumstances, good or bad).

Others: take with a pinch of salt (not believe completely); bell the cat (take a risk on behalf of others); a red-letter day (a memorable, happy day); Achilles' heel (a weak point); in a nutshell (in brief); throw cold water on (discourage).

Phrasal verbs are tested the same way: put up with (tolerate), call off (cancel), look into (investigate), turn down (reject), give in (yield), make out (understand), bring up (raise a child, or mention), break out (start suddenly, of war or fire).

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: read the full sentence and decide the situation and tone (praise, blame, surprise, fear, effort).

Step 2: cross out options that take the words literally (a real cat, real oil, real stones). SSC places at least one literal option as a trap.

Step 3: cross out options whose tone clashes with the sentence (a positive meaning in a sentence of blame).

Step 4: put the remaining option in place of the idiom and read the sentence; it must make complete sense.

When you do not know the idiom, the picture behind it often helps: 'burn the midnight oil' pictures an oil lamp lit late at night, so 'study late'. This fails for idioms with historical origins (white elephant, show the white feather), which must be memorised.

Example 1: study late

Question: What does the idiom mean? Ramesh burnt the midnight oil before his final exam.

Solution: Nothing was burnt literally. Before an exam, the sense is that he studied late into the night.

Answer: He studied till late at night.

Example 2: avoiding the point

Question: What does the idiom mean? Stop beating about the bush and tell me whether you will come.

Solution: The speaker wants a direct answer, so the listener has been avoiding the main point.

Answer: Avoid the main point and talk around it.

Example 3: sudden surprise

Question: What does the idiom mean? The manager's resignation came as a bolt from the blue.

Solution: A bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky is wholly unexpected; the resignation was a complete surprise.

Answer: A sudden and unexpected event.

Example 4: white elephant

Question: Select the meaning of the idiom in capitals: The new flyover, used by few vehicles but costly to maintain, has become A WHITE ELEPHANT for the municipality. (a) a rare gift (b) a costly thing of little use (c) a symbol of pride (d) a profitable venture

Solution: The clues 'used by few vehicles' and 'costly to maintain' point to something expensive and useless. (a) and (c) take the rarity of a white elephant literally; (d) contradicts the sentence.

Answer: (b)

Example 5: cold feet

Question: Select the meaning of the idiom in capitals: Although Suresh had agreed to give the speech, he GOT COLD FEET just before going on stage. (a) fell ill (b) felt very cold (c) became nervous and lost courage (d) became overconfident

Solution: 'Although he had agreed' signals a change of mind at the last moment. (b) is literal, (a) is not suggested, (d) is the opposite tone. Getting cold feet means losing nerve before acting.

Answer: (c)

Example 6: 2 idioms in one sentence

Question: What does the sentence imply? Seeing the official and the contractor hand in glove, the villagers smelt a rat. (a) The villagers saw a rat in the office. (b) The official and the contractor were quarrelling, so the villagers were pleased. (c) The villagers trusted the contractor's honesty. (d) The villagers suspected that the 2 men were secretly working together for a wrong purpose.

Solution: 'Hand in glove' = in very close partnership, usually for a dishonest purpose; 'smell a rat' = suspect something wrong. Together: suspicion of a secret, improper partnership. (a) is literal, (b) reverses 'hand in glove', (c) reverses 'smell a rat'.

Answer: (d)

Common mistakes

Choosing the literal option because it uses the same words as the idiom.

Ignoring tone: 'a feather in one's cap' is praise, 'show the white feather' is blame, though both mention a feather.

Changing the fixed words: 'beat around the bush' is an accepted variant, but 'hit the nail on the top' or 'once in a red moon' are not idioms.

Mixing up phrasal verbs with different particles: 'call off' (cancel) versus 'call on' (visit); 'look into' (investigate) versus 'look after' (take care of).

Practice questions

Q1. Select the meaning of the idiom in capitals: Visiting my old school is something I do ONCE IN A BLUE MOON. (a) very rarely (b) every month (c) only at night (d) with great joy

Q2. Select the meaning of the idiom in capitals: The police LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED to find the missing child. (a) searched only the quarry (b) did everything possible (c) gave up quickly (d) broke many stones

Q3. Select the meaning of the idiom in capitals: Rahul LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, and his sister learnt about her surprise party. (a) freed a pet (b) cancelled the party (c) revealed the secret (d) organised the party

Answers

Q1. (a) 'Once in a blue moon' means very rarely; (c) takes 'moon' literally.

Q2. (b) 'Leave no stone unturned' means try every possible means; (a) and (d) are literal and (c) is the opposite.

Q3. (c) The sister learnt of a surprise, so a secret was revealed; (a) is literal.

Quick revision

Remove the literal option first, then match the tone.

bolt from the blue = surprise; eleventh hour = last moment; once in a blue moon = rarely.

white elephant = costly but useless; cold feet = lose nerve; smell a rat = suspect; hand in glove = close (often dishonest) partners.

call off = cancel, look into = investigate, turn down = reject, put up with = tolerate.

Concepts and rules

One-word substitution gives a definition (a phrase) and asks for the single word that means exactly that. Every part of the definition must fit: 'one who does not believe in God' is an atheist, while 'one who believes God's existence cannot be known' is an agnostic.

Roots that build many answers: omni- (all): omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), omnivorous (eating all kinds of food). -cide (killing): homicide (a human), regicide (a king), patricide (father), matricide (mother), fratricide (brother), infanticide (infant), genocide (a whole race or group).

-phobia (fear): hydrophobia (water), claustrophobia (closed spaces), acrophobia (heights), xenophobia (foreigners). -cracy (rule): democracy (by the people), autocracy (by one person with absolute power), plutocracy (by the wealthy), theocracy (by religious leaders), bureaucracy (by officials), gerontocracy (by old people).

People: philanthropist (one who loves mankind and gives to help others), misanthrope (one who hates mankind), misogynist (one who hates women), altruist (one who selflessly cares for others), polyglot (one who speaks many languages), bibliophile (lover of books), connoisseur (expert judge of art or taste), novice/tyro (beginner), amateur (one who does something for pleasure, not pay).

More people: atheist (does not believe in God), agnostic (holds that God's existence cannot be known), theist (believes in God), insolvent (unable to pay debts), teetotaller (never drinks alcohol), plagiarist (presents another's work as his own), glutton (eats too much), hypocrite (pretends to be what he is not), mercenary (soldier serving a foreign army for money).

'In-' words of impossibility: incorrigible (cannot be corrected), infallible (cannot make a mistake), inevitable (cannot be avoided), indelible (cannot be erased), impregnable (cannot be captured), irreparable (cannot be repaired), illegible (cannot be read), inaudible (cannot be heard), invincible (cannot be defeated).

Places: apiary (bees), aviary (birds), granary (grain), arsenal (weapons), mint (coins), orchard (fruit trees), hangar (aircraft), archives (historical records), cemetery (burial ground), dormitory (sleeping room for many).

Other useful words: panacea (remedy for all ills), anonymous (of unknown name), posthumous (after death), epitaph (words on a tomb), obituary (notice of a death), itinerary (plan of a journey), verbatim (word for word), insomnia (inability to sleep), amnesia (loss of memory), utopia (an ideal, perfect place), ultimatum (final demand with a threat).

Method and shortcuts

Step 1: split the definition into its key parts: who/what, action, object (for example 'killing' + 'of a king').

Step 2: identify the root for each part (-cide for killing, reg- for king) and find the option that contains both.

Step 3: when options share a root (omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent), decide from the second part: sci- (know), pot- (power), present (being there).

Step 4: reject options that match only part of the definition (an 'atheist' denies God; an 'agnostic' only says it cannot be known).

Roots help but can mislead: 'mint' (coins) and 'hangar' (aircraft) have no helpful root, so learn place words as a list.

Example 1: in- word

Question: One word for 'one who cannot be corrected or reformed'.

Solution: in- (not) + corrig- (correct) + -ible (able to be): cannot be corrected.

Answer: Incorrigible

Example 2: place word

Question: One word for 'a place where bees are kept'.

Solution: Latin 'apis' means bee, so the place for bees is an apiary; do not confuse it with 'aviary' (birds).

Answer: Apiary

Example 3: -cide word

Question: One word for 'the killing of a king'.

Solution: reg- (king, as in 'regal') + -cide (killing).

Answer: Regicide

Example 4: options with the same root

Question: Select the one word for 'one who knows everything'. (a) Omnipotent (b) Omnipresent (c) Omniscient (d) Omnivorous

Solution: All 4 begin with omni- (all), so decide by the second part: pot- = power, present = being everywhere, vor- = eating, sci- = knowing (as in 'science').

Answer: (c)

Example 5: every part of the definition

Question: Select the one word for 'a person who believes that the existence of God can neither be proved nor disproved'. (a) Atheist (b) Theist (c) Heretic (d) Agnostic

Solution: The person neither accepts nor denies God. A theist believes; an atheist denies; a heretic holds views against the accepted doctrine of a religion. a- (without) + gnostic (knowledge): one who says it cannot be known.

Answer: (d)

Example 6: replacing a phrase in a sentence

Question: Select the word that can replace the phrase in brackets: The suspect's statement was recorded [in exactly the same words as he spoke]. (a) verbatim (b) verbose (c) verbal (d) viva voce

Solution: All options relate to words or speech, so test each in the sentence. 'Verbose' = using too many words; 'verbal' = spoken, or relating to words, and does not mean 'exactly'; 'viva voce' = by word of mouth (an oral examination). 'Verbatim' = word for word, which captures 'exactly the same words'.

Answer: (a)

Common mistakes

Mixing look-alike words: apiary (bees) and aviary (birds); omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful).

Matching only half the definition: 'insolvent' is unable to pay debts, while a 'spendthrift' only wastes money.

Confusing 'amateur' (does it for pleasure, not money) with 'novice' (a beginner); an amateur may be highly skilled.

Confusing 'misanthrope' (hates mankind) with 'misogynist' (hates women) and 'philanthropist' (loves and helps mankind).

Practice questions

Q1. Select the one word for 'fear of closed spaces'. (a) Acrophobia (b) Claustrophobia (c) Xenophobia (d) Hydrophobia

Q2. Select the one word for 'a remedy for all diseases or troubles'. (a) Panacea (b) Placebo (c) Antidote (d) Anaesthetic

Q3. Select the one word for 'a person who is unable to pay his debts'. (a) Solvent (b) Spendthrift (c) Insolvent (d) Miser

Answers

Q1. (b) claustro- = closed space; acrophobia is fear of heights, xenophobia of foreigners, hydrophobia of water.

Q2. (a) pan- = all; a placebo is a dummy medicine, an antidote counters one particular poison, and an anaesthetic removes the feeling of pain.

Q3. (c) in- (not) + solvent (able to pay); a spendthrift wastes money and a miser hoards it.

Quick revision

Split the definition, match each part to a root, and check the whole meaning.

omni- (all) + sci (know), pot (power), present (everywhere), vor (eat).

-cide: regicide (king), fratricide (brother), patricide (father), genocide (race); -phobia: claustro (closed), acro (height), xeno (foreigner), hydro (water).

apiary bees, aviary birds, granary grain, arsenal weapons, mint coins, hangar aircraft; atheist denies, agnostic doubts, theist believes.

Concepts and method

An idiom is a fixed expression whose figurative meaning may be very different from the literal meanings of its individual words.

In SSC questions, the sentence usually provides enough context to infer whether the idiom describes decision, difficulty, secrecy, success, failure, beginning, responsibility, avoidance or consequence.

Before checking options, replace the idiom mentally with a simple phrase that makes the sentence logical.

If two idioms occur in the same question, solve each independently and preserve their order.

Context clues

Look at what happened immediately before and after the idiom.

A consequence often explains the earlier idiom. For example, if safety checks were skipped and the machine later failed, 'cut corners' must refer to avoiding necessary care.

Contrast words such as 'but', 'although', 'yet' and 'however' may show that two idioms represent opposite stages or attitudes.

Action and consequence idioms

'Cut corners' means do something cheaply, quickly or carelessly by omitting necessary steps.

'Pay the price' means suffer the negative consequences of an earlier action.

Example: 'The contractor cut corners during construction and later paid the price when repairs became necessary.'

Decision idioms

'On the fence' means undecided between alternatives.

'Make up one's mind' means reach a decision.

These two can form a natural sequence: first uncertainty, then decision.

Beginning interaction or activity

'Break the ice' means reduce initial awkwardness or tension between people.

'Get the ball rolling' means start an activity or process.

The first generally concerns social ease; the second concerns beginning action.

Responsibility and accountability

'Pass the buck' means shift responsibility to someone else.

'Face the music' means accept criticism, punishment or unpleasant consequences.

A person may pass the buck to avoid blame, while another may eventually have to face the music.

Secrecy and disclosure

'Keep something under wraps' means keep it secret.

'Let the cat out of the bag' means reveal a secret, often accidentally.

These expressions can be tested as contrasting states: concealment versus disclosure.

Difficulty and effort

'Burn the midnight oil' means work or study late into the night.

'Go the extra mile' means make more effort than normally expected.

'A hard nut to crack' describes a difficult problem or person to understand or deal with.

Success and failure

'Hit the nail on the head' means identify or state something exactly correctly.

'Miss the mark' means fail to achieve the intended result or be inaccurate.

'Come off with flying colours' means succeed very well, especially in a test or challenge.

Unexpected developments

'Out of the blue' means unexpectedly.

'A bolt from the blue' describes a sudden and surprising event, often unpleasant or shocking.

The literal colour blue is irrelevant in both expressions.

Avoidance and postponement

'Beat around the bush' means avoid discussing the main point directly.

'Put something on the back burner' means postpone giving it immediate attention.

Do not confuse avoidance of a topic with postponement of an activity.

Very easy or very difficult

'A piece of cake' means very easy.

'An uphill task' means a difficult task requiring considerable effort.

The physical meanings of cake and slope are not relevant.

Agreement or understanding

'See eye to eye' means agree completely or share the same view.

'Read between the lines' means understand an implied meaning that is not directly stated.

These expressions test agreement versus inference and should not be treated as similar.

Example 1: action and consequence

'They cut corners by skipping inspections and paid the price when the equipment failed.' 'Cut corners' means omit necessary care, while 'paid the price' means suffered the consequences.

Example 2: decision sequence

'Rita was on the fence for several days but finally made up her mind.' The first idiom means undecided; the second means decided.

Example 3: meeting sequence

'A light joke broke the ice, and the chairperson's first agenda item got the ball rolling.' The joke reduced awkwardness; the agenda began the actual work.

Example 4: secrecy

'The project was kept under wraps until an employee accidentally let the cat out of the bag.' The first idiom means kept secret; the second means disclosed the secret.

Example 5: responsibility

'The supervisor tried to pass the buck, but eventually had to face the music.' He first shifted responsibility and later had to accept unpleasant consequences.

Example 6: precision

'The analyst hit the nail on the head when she identified the real cause of the decline.' The idiom means she identified the issue exactly.

Fast solving approach

Use the sequence: read full sentence → identify event → note result/contrast → paraphrase idiom → test options → reject literal meanings.

For paired idioms, write meaning 1 and meaning 2 separately before checking the pair options.

If an option fits the broad tone but changes the action, reject it.

Common errors

Do not translate the individual words literally.

Do not assume every idiom containing the same object, such as 'ball' or 'ice', has a related meaning.

Do not confuse 'break the ice' with 'get the ball rolling': one eases social tension, the other starts activity.

Do not confuse 'beat around the bush' with 'put on the back burner': one avoids the main point, the other postpones action.

Do not reverse paired meanings merely because both idioms occur in the same sentence.

Do not choose an option based only on positive or negative tone.

Revision

Group idioms by function: decision, beginning, secrecy, responsibility, effort, success, failure and consequence. Then remember each idiom through one short contextual sentence rather than a literal translation.

Concepts and method

A one-word substitution expresses a precise description using one established word.

Do not choose only by topic. Identify who or what is being described, what action is performed, and what object or field the action concerns.

Many SSC distractors belong to the same broad field but differ by one decisive detail.

Ability versus study or profession

A 'polyglot' is a person who knows or speaks several languages.

A 'linguist' studies language scientifically or is highly skilled in languages.

An 'interpreter' converts spoken language from one language to another.

A 'translator' generally converts written material from one language to another.

The clue 'speaks many languages' therefore points to polyglot, not automatically linguist or interpreter.

Scientific fields and practitioners

An 'astronomer' scientifically studies celestial bodies and phenomena.

An 'astrologer' interprets supposed influences of celestial bodies on human affairs.

A 'geologist' studies the earth, rocks and geological processes.

A 'meteorologist' studies weather and atmospheric phenomena.

Always identify the exact object of scientific study.

Maps and land

A 'cartographer' makes or draws maps.

A 'surveyor' measures land, boundaries, distances or elevations.

A 'geographer' studies places, physical features and human-environment relationships.

The output 'map' is the decisive clue for cartographer.

Life writing

A 'biographer' writes the life story of another person.

An 'autobiographer' writes an account of his or her own life.

A 'memoirist' writes personal recollections, usually focusing on selected experiences rather than an entire life.

The phrase 'another person's life' distinguishes biography from autobiography.

Coins, stamps and collections

A 'numismatist' studies or collects coins and currency.

A 'philatelist' collects or studies postage stamps.

A 'bibliophile' is a person who loves or collects books.

Do not confuse the object collected or studied.

Books and writing

A 'lexicographer' compiles or writes dictionaries.

A 'calligrapher' practises decorative or artistic handwriting.

A 'stenographer' writes shorthand, often to record speech.

A 'bibliographer' compiles information or lists relating to books and publications.

Speech and public communication

An 'orator' is a skilled public speaker.

A 'ventriloquist' appears to speak without moving the lips and makes the voice seem to come from elsewhere.

A 'spokesperson' speaks officially on behalf of a person or organisation.

The exact function of the speaker is the deciding clue.

Beliefs and attitudes

An 'optimist' expects favourable outcomes.

A 'pessimist' tends to expect unfavourable outcomes.

A 'skeptic' questions whether claims are true and demands evidence.

A 'cynic' tends to distrust people's motives or sincerity.

These terms should not be treated as interchangeable negative attitudes.

Knowledge and learning

An 'omniscient' being knows everything.

An 'autodidact' is a self-taught person.

An 'erudite' person has extensive scholarly knowledge.

The description 'self-taught' specifically points to autodidact.

Government and social systems

A 'democracy' is government by the people, directly or through representatives.

An 'autocracy' concentrates power in one ruler.

A 'plutocracy' is rule or dominant influence by the wealthy.

A 'theocracy' is government based on religious authority.

Identify the source of governing power rather than merely the existence of government.

Places and institutions

An 'orphanage' is a home or institution for children without parental care.

An 'aquarium' is a place or container where aquatic organisms are kept.

An 'aviary' is an enclosure for birds.

An 'apiary' is a place where beehives are kept.

These similar-sounding terms are distinguished by what is housed there.

Fear and medical-style terms

'Claustrophobia' is an excessive fear of confined spaces.

'Acrophobia' is fear of heights.

'Hydrophobia' literally concerns fear or aversion to water, though the term also has a historical medical association with rabies.

In exam vocabulary, identify the object of fear exactly.

Example 1: language ability

'A person who speaks several languages' = polyglot. 'Linguist' is broader and may refer to someone who studies language.

Example 2: scientific field

'One who scientifically studies stars, planets and other celestial objects' = astronomer, not astrologer.

Example 3: map production

'One who makes maps' = cartographer. A surveyor may provide measurements used in mapping but is not defined primarily by making maps.

Example 4: life writing

'One who writes another person's life' = biographer; 'one who writes one's own life' = autobiographer.

Example 5: collections

'One who studies or collects coins' = numismatist; 'one who collects stamps' = philatelist.

Example 6: specialised writing

'One who compiles a dictionary' = lexicographer.

Fast solving approach

Use the sequence: identify person/place/quality/system → underline the main action → identify its object → eliminate related occupations or terms → verify exact definition.

If two options belong to the same field, ask what each one actually does.

Common errors

Do not choose by field alone: astronomer and astrologer both involve celestial bodies but perform different activities.

Do not confuse speaking several languages with translating them.

Do not confuse making maps with measuring land.

Do not confuse biography with autobiography.

Do not mix the collector with the object: numismatist=coins, philatelist=stamps.

Do not select a similar-sounding institution such as apiary or aviary without checking what it contains.

Do not rely on word roots alone when the established definition is more specific.

Revision

Create contrast pairs: polyglot/linguist/interpreter, astronomer/astrologer, cartographer/surveyor, biographer/autobiographer, numismatist/philatelist, apiary/aviary. Remember the decisive action or object for each.